Roofing-shingle.



PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

L. G. SHARP RQOFING SHINGLE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.16,1904.

but Ihave found that in NTTED STATES Patented May 2, 1905.

LESLIE Gr. SHARP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ROOFING-SHINGLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 788,676, dated May 2, 1905. Application filed April 18, 1904. $e1'ial No. 203,436.

To all whom it 'nuty conceive.-

Be it known that I, LESLIE G. SHARP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicage, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Roofing-Shingles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to improvements in roofing-shingles made of plastic shale or clay and suitably burned.

My invention does not apply to what are commonly known as interlocking roofingtiles of the kind that overlap each other but slightly at their ends and with a gutter or groove at one side and an overhanging flange or a combined flange and tongue at the other side for interlocking purposes and to prevent leakage of the roof at the side joints of the tile, but are laid one upon another and are dependent upon their long laps, close-fitting bearing-surfaces, and the proper breaking of joints in order to render the roof reliable and waterproof. As my roofing-shingels are not made of wood, but a more brittle material, they are not tapered or beveled down at their upper part like the common wooden shingle, but the body part thereof is made practically of one thickness throughout, excepting where upwardly-projecting parts are made on the face for ornamental or other purposes and where a portion of the under part of the bottom of the body part is hollowed out to re move unnecessary material and to lighten the tile or to accommodate the upwardly projecting parts of other similar tile when laid thereon in forming a roof.

The object of my invention is to produce both plain and ornamental roofing-shingles or shingle-tile of the aforesaid long overlapping kind that will be cheap to manufacture, light, strong, durable, and well adapted to make a good reliable waterproof roof for buildings.

Heretofore shingle-tile have usually been made of uniform thickness throughout their entire length and with nail-holes made down through the body part of the tile and close to the upper end thereof. Such tile made of a uniform thickness throughout are strong,

certain parts therelevel as the face of the tile or a trifle lower,

it is necessaryto locate the nailholes quite near the upper end of the tile to prevent the water that goes in at the side joints and spreads under the tile from getting down into the nail-holes. Nailing the tile so near their tops does not hold their butts or lower ends so firmly, securely, and closely down on the tile beneath them, and when not securely nailed the wind is liable to cause the buttends of the tile to rise and fall, producing an objectionable rattling noise. Furthermore, in chipping or cutting the tile to the proper angles to fit at the hips and in the valleys of roofs the roofer must frequently cut off one or both of the nail-holes when they are located near the top of the tile, and as new nailholes cannot very well be made in hard-burned or vitrified tile it is therefore difficult forthe roofer to satisfactorily secure such tile in place 011 the roof. To remedy this difficulty as much as possible, Ilocate the nail-holes in my shingle-tile about as far down as practicable in order to have the nails miss the upper ends of the tile beneath them, and to prevent the water from getting into the nail-holes when placed so far down on the body of the tile I make studs or bosses projecting upwardly from the face-level of the tile with the nailholes made down through said studs or bosses and the body part of the tile, so that any water entering at the side joints and spreading under the tile would neither be able to reach the top of said studs or bosses nor get down into the nail-holes. In thus providing for nail holes that will be safe against leakage I can locate said nail-holes so far down on the body of the tile that in cutting them to fit hips and valleys, as aforesaid, the roofer can chip or cut off almost the whole upper part and cut ofi on a diagonal I ends may terminate in enlargements or bosses line considerable of the lower part of the tile without loss of more than one of the nailholes at most, and with one nail-hole available the roofer can fasten the section of the tile securely to the sheathing-boards. The longitudinal ribs on the face and bottom parts serve to greatly stiffen and strengthen the tile, and especially so when the inner ends of said upper and lower ribs are made to pass beyond or overlap each other.

Aside from the important advantages above stated my shingle-tile have many other good features, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a part of a roof composed of my shingletile,-which view is partly in whole and partly in longitudinal sectional form, out on dotted lines 1 l in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a perspective plan view showing some of my shingle-tile laid up to form a roof. In this view parts of some of the tile .are shown as broken away in order to more clearly show certain parts of other tile beneath them. Fig. 3 is a perspective plan view of the face side of one of my shingletile. Fig. 4 is a perspective plan view of the bottom of the tile shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective plan view of the bottom of one of my shingletile, which shows the bottom thereof in a slightlymodified form.

My shin le-tile A are preferably made of plastic sha le or clay, suitably burned, and are generally made of the rectangular plan outline shown in most of the figures of the accompanying drawings, but in some cases I depart from this rectangular outline by making the lower ends or butts of the tile of a semicircular form, or I may modify the shape or plan outline of the butt-ends by adopting any other common and wellknown shape therefor that may be found desirable, and I may change the pattern or design of the centrally-located raised part on the butt-end of the tile into any other known pattern or design that may be found desirable either for ornamental or other purposes.

In my shingle-tile that portion of the face thereof that is overlapped by the tile laid above it in roof construction I make on one general level or plane; but the weather-exposed part of the face of the tile may be of modified face outline, varied according to the ornamental and other features thereof. The lowermost surface of the bottom proper of my tile or the main part of the bottom, as I herein term it, exclusive of the longitudinal ribs, is made throughout its length in a single plane and parallel to the aforesaid face plane. On the sides of my tile, on the face part, I form two upwardly projecting longitudinally-disposed ribs a, which at their upper 0, as shown in Fig. 3, and on the bottom of the tile, on its sides, I usually form two downwardly projecting longitudinally disposed ribs a as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, which ribs are to close the openings beneath the tile that there would otherwise be and are also intended to strengthen and stiffen the tile and afford a bearing for that part thereof on the sheathing-boards. The ribs a and a are preferably made long enough to overlap each other, as shown, which overlapping feature greatly strengthens the tile and renders it less liable to warp out of shape in the burn ing process. Down through the bosses (1 the body of the tile, and the ribs (1 I make nailholes a to permit the tile to be securely nailed to the sheathing-boards of the roof. The combined thickness of the parts through which the nail-holes pass render the tile so strong that it is not so likely to break out at the nail-holes if the tile should be accidentally struck with the hammer'in driving the nails. On the butt part of the tile I preferably make a centrally-located raised part a, Fig. 3,which may have an opening a in its lower end shingle-tile beneath it when laid up to form a roof. The aforesaid centrally-located raised part a may be hollowed out from the bottom side of the tile, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and may have a cross-rib or guard a extending from one side to the other of the aforesaid hollowed out part and connected thereto. Said cross-rib or guard a may have a notch a made in it to receive the aforesaid side ribs (1. This cross-rib a serves to strengthen and stiffen the tile and also aids in excluding snow or water that might otherwise blow under the butt of the tile and go on up over the upper end of the tile and cause leakage of the roof. In the bottom of the tile I sometimes make a cavity or panel a as shown in Fig. 4, to remove unnecessary material and lighten the tile. The panel a can be made large in area, because nearly all of the cavity comes beyond the upper end of the tile, that would be laid below it in forming a roof, and this paneled or cavity part would not be required for bearing or contact surface purposes in connection with the aforesaid tile below it. In some cases I may make two cavities a, with a partition a between them, as shown in Fig. 5, and I sometimes make a panel or cavity a in the bottom of the tile, as shown in Fig. 5, which panel or cavity is also for the purpose of removing unnecessary material and to lighten the tile.

To construct a roof of my shingletile,they are laid up, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. On the sheathing-boards E at the eave a strip of wood D is secured, and above this strip is laid the first course of short tile, which are termed under-eave tile, which in Fig. 2 are indicated by the letters and figures as B and B,

to receive the ribs a of a similar.

the latter being the half-under-eave tile used for breaking the joints. These under-cave tile may have upwardly-projecting parts I) made on their faces at the sides thereof for the purpose of closing up the openings of the course of tile that is nailed on the sheathing-boards above the said course of undereave tile, as shown in Fig. 2. In every other course a half-tile A is used to break joints in a manner similar to that of forming a common wooden-shingle roof. The top course or ridge-tile C are usually made somewhat shorter than the regular length of tile. The half-tile A have a rib on the face at one side and have a nail-hole boss similar to the one 011 the whole tile. The ridge-tile C have ribs c, nail-hole bosses c and nail-holes 0 similar to the other tile of the same pattern. The under-cave tile may have nail-hole bosses b and nail-holes b for securing said tile to the sheathing-boards.

It will be seen that if the bottom course of tile are not provided with openings at in the hollowed out raised part the upwardlyprojecting parts I) of the under-cave tile for filling said openings should also be omitted.

What I claim as my invention, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a shingle-tile, a body part of oblong outline with approximately two-thirds of its upper face length made in a single plane, the main part of the bottom of said body part also made in a single plane and parallel to said face plane, a panel or cavity made in the upper portion of the bottom of said body part for rendering the tile lighter, and a suitable nail-hole made down through said body part for securing the tile to a roof-foundation, all when combined as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a shingle-tile, a body part of oblong outline with approximately two-thirds of its upper face length made in a single plane, the main part of the bottom of said body part also made in a single plane and parallel to said face plane, a panel or cavity made in the upper portion of the bottom of said body part for rendering the tile lighter, downwardlyprojecting longitudinally-disposed ribs made on the bottom of the body part for closing the openings between the tile and sheathingboards of the roof, upwardly-projecting longitudinally-disposed ribs made on the face of said body part at its sides and extended far enough to overlap the lower ends of the aforesaid ribs on the bottom of the tile, and a suitable nail-hole made down through said upper and lower ribs and the body of the tile, for securing said tile to a roof-foundation, all when combined substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a shingle-tile, a body part of oblong outline with approximately two-thirds of its upper face length made in a single plane, the main part of the bottom of said body part also made in a single plane and parallel to forth.

4. In a shingle-tile, a body part with approximately two-thirds of its upper face length made in a single plane, the main part of the bottom of said body part also made in a single plane and parallel to said face plane, upwardly-projecting longitudinallydisposed ribs made on the face of said body part at its sides, a centrally-located raised part made on the lower portion of said face part and said. raised part hollowed out from the under side of said body part, an opening or notch made in the lower end of said centrally-located hollowed-out raised part adapted to receive the aforesaid upwardly-projecting longitudinally-disposed ribs made on the face of a similar tile when laid beneath the first-mentioned tile in forming a roof, the downwardly-projecting cross-rib or guard a", made on the inside of said hollowed-out raised part, the opening or notch (17, made in said cross-rib or guard a, to likewise receive the upwardly-projecting longitudinally-disposed ribs made on the face of a similar shingle-tile in forming a roof, and a suitable nail-hole made in said shingle-tile for securing it to a roof-foundation, all when combined substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a shingle-tile, a body part with approximately twothirds of its upper face length made in a single plane, the main part of the bottom of said body part also made in a single plane and parallel to said face plane, rmwardly-projecting longitudinally-disposed ribs made on the face of said body part at its sides, a centrally-located raised part made on the lower portion of said face part and saidn'aised part hollowed out from the under side of said body part, an opening or notch made in the lower end of said centrally-located hollowed-out raised part adap ted to receive the aforesaid upwardly-projecting longitudinally-disposed ribs made on the face of a similar tile when laid beneath the first-mentioned tile in forming a roof, the downwardly projecting cross rib or guard a, made on. the inside of said hollowed-out raised part, the opening or notch a made in said cross-rib or guard a, to likewise receive the upwardly-projecting longitudinally-disposed ribs made on the face of a similar shingle-tile in forming a roof, a cavity or panel made in the bottom of said body part for rendering the shingle-tile lighter and a suitable nail-hole made in said shingle-tile for securing it to a roof-foundation, all when combined substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 5 6. In a shingle-tile, a body part with approximately two-thirds of its upper face length made in a single plane, the main part of the bottom of said body part also made in a single plane and parallel to said face plane, upwardly-projecting longitudinally-disposed sides, a centrally-located raised part made on the lower portion of saidface part and said raised part hollowed out from the under side of said body part, an opening or notch made in the lower end of said centrallylo cated hollowed-out raised part adapted to re ceive the aforesaid upwardly-projecting longitudinally-disposed ribs made on the face of i a similar tile when laid beneath the firstmentioned tile in forming a roof, the downwardly-projecting cross-rib or guard a, made on the inside of said hollowed-out raised part, the opening or notch a made in said crossrib or guard a, to likewise receive the upwardly projecting longitudinally disposed ribs made on the face of a similar shingle-tile in forming a roof, downwardly-projecting longitudinally-disposed ribs made on the under side of said body part for closing the openings between the bottom of the tile and the sheathing-boards of the roof, said downwardly projecting longitudinally disposed ribs made long enough to overlap the upper ends of said longitudinal ribs made on the face of the body part, and a suitable nail hole made in said shingle-tile for securing it to a roof-foundation, all when combined substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 7. In a shingle-tile, a body part with approximately two -thirds of its upper face length made in a single plane, the main part of the bottom of said body part also made in a single plane and parallel to said face plane, upwardly-proj ecting longitudinally-disposed ribs made on the face of said body part at its sides, a centrally-located raised part made on the lower portion of said face part and said raised part hollowed out from,the under side of said body part, an opening or notch made in the lower end of said centrally-located hollowed-out raised part adapted to receive the aforesaid upwardly-projecting longitudinally-disposed ribs made on the face of a similar tile when laid beneath the firstmentioned tile in forming a roof, the downwardly-projecting cross-rib or guard a, made on the inside of said hollowed-out raised part,

ribs made on the face of said body part at its the opening or notch a made in said crossrib or guard a", to likewise receive the upwardly projecting longitudinally disposed ribs made on the face of a similar shingle-tile in forming a roof, downwardly-projecting longitudinally-disposed ribs made on the under side of said body part for closing the openings between the bottom of the tile and the sheathing-boards of the roof, said downwardly projecting longitudinally disposed ribs made long enough to overlap the upper ends of said longitudinal ribs made on the face of the body part, a cavity or panel made in the bottom of said body part for rendering the tile lighter, and a suitable nail-hole made in said shingle-tile for securing it to a rooffoundation, all when combined as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In combination with a shingle-tile, a body part approximately two-thirds of its upper face length made in a single plane, the main part of the bottom of said body part also made in a single plane and parallel to said face plane, upwardly-projecting longitudinally-disposed ribs made on the face of said body part at its sides, a centrally-located raised part made on the lower portion of said face part and said raised part hollowed out from the under side of said body part, an opening or notch made in the lower end of said centrally-located hollowed-out raised part adapted to receive the aforesaid upwardly projecting longitudinally disposed ribs made on the face of a similar tile when laid beneath the first-mentioned tile in forming a roof, the downwardly-projecting crossrib or guard a, made on the inside of said hollowed-out raised part, the opening or notch a made in said cross-rib or guard a, to likewise receive the upwardly-projecting longitudinally-disposed ribs made on the face of a similar shingle-tile in forming 'a roof, a suitable nail-hole made in said shingle-tile for securing it to a roof-foundation, the under eave tile B, with the upwardly-projecting arts b, made on the face thereof at its side and a suitable nail-hole made in said undereave tile for securing it to a roof-foundation, all when combined substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LESLIE G. SHARP.

Witnesses:

R. A. JOHNSON, F. B. TOWNSEND. 

